Robert
Johnson
Born in James City County, Colony of Virginia
Ancestors 
Son of John Johnson Jr
and Margaret (Lyden) Johnson
Brother of
Jeffrey Johnson I
Husband of
Katherine (Allen) Johnson
— married
about 1664 in Isle of Wight County, Colony of Virginia
Husband of
Ann (Unknown) Johnson
— married
about 1694 in Isle of Wight County, Colony of Virginia
Descendants 
Father of
John Johnson, John Johnson, Catherine (Johnson) Council, Priscilla (Johnson) Council, Mary Johnson, Ann (Johnson) Griffin, Robert Johnson Jr, Abraham Johnson, Isaac Johnson, James Johnson, Jacob Johnson and Sarah Johnson
Died before
before age 90
in Isle Wight County, Colony of Virginia
Profile managers:
Richard Draper 
[send private message], Michelle Brooks [send private message], Sandy Culver [send private message], US Southern Colonies Project WikiTree [send private message], and Linda Plummer [send private message]
[send private message], Michelle Brooks [send private message], Sandy Culver [send private message], US Southern Colonies Project WikiTree [send private message], and Linda Plummer [send private message]Profile last modified
| Created 18 Mar 2011
This page has been accessed 7,034 times.
Multiple people may be conflated in this profile, i.e. information about different people may be combined and confused.
| Robert Johnson resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies |
This is the profile of Robert Johnson of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, who left a Will dated 1732.
Contents |
Biography
Robert Johnson was born about 1643. This date is estimated based on the fact that his daughter was married in 1692 when he and his wife Katherine deeded land to her.[1]
Robert married Ann (____) before 24 September 1732.[2]
He passed away before 28 May 1733, presumably in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.[2]
Will & Probate
Last Will and Testament of Robert Johnson[2][3]
Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
24 September 1732.
28 May 1733 (proved).
I Robert Johnson being at present Sick and Weak in Body but perfect in Sence and Memory, Calling to Minde that it is Once Appointed for all men to Die, think fitt to make this my last will and Testament wherein I give and bequeath my Lands and other Estate in Manner and form as followeth which it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me in this world.
Item 1. I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God that gave it and my Body to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian like Manner.
Item 2. I give unto my Son Robert Johnson five Shillings Current Money he haveing had his part heretofore.
Item 3. I give unto my Son James Johnson One Hundred Acres of Land on the South Side of the Swamp on the which he now Dwells to come down the Said Swamp to a poplar in the Mouth of a Small Branch and up the Said Branch to a Gumm and then a line of Marked Trees to the head Line to a post white Oak Corner don by my Self. I give it him and his heirs or assigns for Ever Also one Breeding Mare about three years Old.
Item 4. I Give to my Son John Johnson one Breeding Mare about three years old.
Item 5. I give to my Son Abraham Johnson all the Lower part of my Land on the South Side of the Swamp from the Dividing Branch up into the pasture Branch and so out to the Head Line to him and his Heirs or Assigns for Ever. Also one Breeding mare about three years old.
Item 6. I give unto Son Isaac Johnson all the Land that lyes in the fork of the Branch that Divides between me & Thomas Swann on the North Side of the Swamp where I now live up to the Head Line to him and his heirs for Ever or assigns. Also one Breeding Mare about three years old.
It[em] 7. I give unto my Son Jacob Johnson the Remaining part of all my Land which I now Live on to him and his Heirs or assigns, in Case he have Lawfull Heirs Begotten of his Body and in case Such Heirs fail, I give it to my Son Isaac and his Heirs or assigns for Ever after the Death of my Well beloved Wife Ann Johnson.
It[em] 8. I give unto my Daughter Cathrine Council five Shillings Current Money She haveing had her part heretofore.
It[em] 9. I give to my daughter Priscilla Council five Shillings Current Money She haveing had her part heretofore.
It[em] 10. I give unto my Daughter Ann Griffin five Shillings Current Money she haveing had her part heretofore.
It[em] 11. I leave all the remaining part of my estate to the Use of my Well beloved Wife both in Doors and Out Doors Dureing her Naturall Life and afterwards to be Equally Divided between Six of my Children named as followeth, i e, John & Abraham & Isaac & Jacob and my Two younger Daughters Mary & Sarah Johnson, And I appoint my well beloved wife Ann, my whole & Sole Executrix to Se this my Last Will and Testament performed as is above written Whereunto I have Set my hand and fixed my Seal this Twenty fourth day of September Anno. 1732.
Signed: Robert Johnson (his mark).
Witnesses: Thomas Drake Jun'r, Richard Worell (his mark), John Dawson jun'r.
Executors: my well beloved wife Ann.
To summarize, his Will names:
- son Robert
- son James
- son John
- son Abraham
- son Issac, land adjoining Thomas Swann
- son Jacob
- wife Ann
- daughter Catherine Council
- daughter Priscilla Council
- daughter Ann Griffin
- daughter Mary Johnson
- daughter Sarah Johnson
At a Court held for Isle of Wight County May the 28 1733. The Last Will and Testament of Robert Johnson Deceased was psented in Court by the Execut'x therein Named who made oath thereto according to Law and being proved by the Oaths of the Witnesses is Admitted to Record.[2]
Land Patents
- 30 Oct 1669 Nansemond, VA: 300 acres, the patent does not recite any particular water course or place, only the courses and distances.[4]
- 23 April 1681 Isle of Wight, VA: 2150 acres situate near ye head of Corowaugh Swamp.[5]
- 15 Oct 1698 Nansemond, VA: 42 acres on Currowah Swamp. Beg.g &c. in his own line near the head of a branch called Millers Branch.[6] Note: This grant was made to Robert Johnson Sr
Children
[each of the children need a reliable source establishing their relationship to this profile]
If Robert Johnson was one individual with two wives:
Robert Johnson married (1) Katherine Allen and had the following children:
- John Johnson; died 1707.[citation needed]
- Elinor.[citation needed]
- Catherine,[2] m. Council.
- Priscilla,[2] m. Council.
- Ann, m. Griffin.
- Mary.
Robert married (2) Ann (____) and had the following children:
Research Notes
Possibly Conflated
Disputed Death and Marriages:
See G2G thread: Two Robert Johnsons of early Virginia conflated!
Research by Mark Valsame in late 1990s and early 2000 revealed that the 1979 Johnson/Johnstons of Currowaugh research was highly flawed concerning Robert Johnson-- that it had conflated two different men. There is a Robert Johnson who left a will in 1732/3 but it is believed by some researchers that he was not the same Robert Johnson who married Katherine.
Early histories on the the family of Robert Johnson assumed that he had two wives, Katherine Allen and later Ann who is named as his wife in a 1732/3 will. Research by Mark Valsame in late 1990s and early 2000 revealed that the 1979 Johnson/Johnstons of Corrowaugh research was highly flawed concerning Robert Johnson. It is suspected that there may have been two separate Roberts. Both an early Robert Johnson who married Katherine Allen and a later Robert Johnson with wife Ann named in the 1732/3 will. One early land grant is recorded for Robert Johnson Sr in 1698 (see land grants below).
Robert and wife Katherine Allen:
Evidence for Robert Johnson with wife Katherine Allen is provided by the following deed:
Deed of Gift to daughter Mary Johnson, wife of James Johnson
4 Aug 1692, Isle of Wight Deed (Bk 1, p.49) [7]
- Know all men by these presents that I Robert Johnson planter of the lower parish of the Isle of Wight County doe freely give unto my daughter Mary Johnson a parcell of land to her and her heyres lawfully begotten of her owne body for Ever, the aforesaid land lying and beinge upon the north East side of Corrawake Swamp begining upon the said Swamp at Booths line at the run of said Swamp and soe up the said Booths line north East to a pine, and soe along Thomas Houlders line the same Course to a lightwood stump from thence downe aline of marked trees to the head of a small branch which runs out of the longe branch and soe downe the long branch to Corrawake soe down the run of Corrawacke Swamp to Booths line which land I had my pattent of Sr Henry Chickeley Kt deputy Governor and Lt Generall of Virginia in the Eight and twentieth yeare of our Sovereigne lord King Charles the second his reigne, and if the aforesaid Mary Johnson should depart this world before her husband that now is James Johnson then he is not to be molested soe long as he lives but after his decease the Children is to have it as wittnesse my hand this fourth day of August 1692.
- his
- William Duck Robert RE Johnson
- mark
- Acknowledged by Robert Johnson and Katherine his wife in open Court held for the Isle of Wight County August the 9th 1692 to be theire act and deed.
Vital Statistics
Birth
His birth date is estimated based on his daughter Mary being married on 4 Aug 1692 in a deed, (4 Aug 1692 - average 21 years old at marriage - average 34 years old at middle child's birth) = about 1637.
Robert Johnson was born about 1643. This date is estimated based on the fact that his daughter was married in 1692 when he and his wife Katherine deeded land to her. [age for each presumption are not listed]
Sources
- ↑ See Birth.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 County Court, Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Mixed probate records, 1643-1866 ; indexes to wills, 1850-1985, Mixed records, Vol. 2 1661-1719 Mixed records, Vol. 3 1726-1734; database with images, FamilySearch (images 576-577).
- ↑ Blanche Adams Chapman, Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight County Virginia, 1647–1800 ([not listed]: author, 1938), p71; digital images, FamilySearch (p71).
- ↑ Library of Virginia Archives, VA Land Patents and Grants (1669 - 1030) https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990007774270205756
- ↑ Library of Virginia Archives, VA Land Patents and Grants (1681 - 0423) https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990007774220205756
- ↑ Library of Virginia Archives, VA Land Patents and Grants (1698 - 1015) https://lva.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01LVA_INST/altrmk/alma990007774390205756
- ↑ Family Search Film # 007645140 Screen# 50 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-3QWR?i=49&cat=372417
See also - other family trees:
- Geni.com, Profile for Robert Johnson (1643–1733).
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com
DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Robert by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Robert:
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Robert by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Robert:
-
~0.78%
Sandy Culver
:
23andMe, GEDmatch A532908 [compare]
+
AncestryDNA, GEDmatch A532908 [compare], Ancestry member sandy_culver
+
Family Tree DNA Family Finder, GEDmatch M073653 [compare], yourDNAportal SAN86f96286, FTDNA kit #205239
-
~0.39%
Robert Fowler :
Family Tree DNA Family Finder, GEDmatch T608267 [compare], FTDNA kit #298991
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
Images: 2
Rejected matches › Robert Johnston (1642-)
Featured National Park champion connections: Robert is 13 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 20 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 13 degrees from George Catlin, 12 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 20 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 15 degrees from George Grinnell, 26 degrees from Anton Kröller, 14 degrees from Stephen Mather, 20 degrees from Kara McKean, 14 degrees from John Muir, 16 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 22 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
WikiTree member Johnson-50393 is connected per YDNA to his Johnson line. Tracing his Johnson line leads to his ancestor Benjamin Franklin Johnson-3386. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Johnson-3386#Ancestors
This tree shows James Johnson-55207 who married Mary Johnson-3381. This couple is attached to Robert Johnson-3723 and Mary Johnson-3381 is also attached to Robert Johnson-3723.
The first Robert connection is marked “uncertain”, and does not list any wives. The second Robert connection is attached to the 2 wives of Robert Johnson. Both Roberts are managed by USSC project. and both are PPP and carry YDNA.
Both lines connect back to John Johnson Sr 1590-1860 who is also managed by USSC project and is PPP and carries male YDNA, kit B199316 which is haplogoup R-M269 is disputed by kit 108229 in the public results for the Johnson project at FamilyTree DNA.com and is haplogroup E-L241. His profile lists his connection as “108229 Johnson John Johnson, Yoeman and Ancient Planter 1590-1638 Scotland E-L241”
This participant is NOT a member of WikiTree. However, Mark Valsame has supplied his pedigree as submitted to him at our JJJ project while we were working as co-managers. While we are not at liberty to disclose his identity I would like to post screen shots of the public display(s) at FT.
Sherrie (Mitchell-17863) Boone
I see a potential conflict with the YDNA that is posted on this profile that traces to haplogroup RM-269. Contrasted with Johnson participant at FTDNA.com kit 108229 traces to "Johnson John Johnson, Yoeman and Ancient Planter 1590-1638" and he is Haplogroup E-L241
Sherrie (Mitchell-17863) Boone
Rick Draper (Draper-310)
I have to say that given the disputes DNA confirmation as posted is not working here... RM-269 does not = E-L241.
The 2 profiles as linked per YDNA on the page: MY note=
Research by Mark Valsame in late 1990s and early 2000 revealed that the 1979 Johnson/Johnstons of Corrowaugh research was highly flawed concerning Robert Johnson. It is suspected that there may have been two separate Roberts. Both an early Robert Johnson who married Katherine Allen and a later Robert Johnson with wife Ann named in the 1732/3 will. One early land grant is recorded for Robert Johnson Sr in 1698 (see land grants below).
I have contact email and phone for Mark Valsame and have sent an email.... will try his cell later.
Sherrie
I spoke with Mark last night and both he and I have ALL of our saved notes from our Johnson project. In other words, WE have the proof. I will continue to address this in order to have the proper YDNA haplogroup E-L241 displayed rather than the RM-269 as is currently displayed.
It will be complex because many linked lines are PPP and/or managed by WT's Southern Colonies project, which I participate in. But since I recruited the 2 testers for LBJ I think it is proper to have their results reflect LBJ's proper haplogroup E-L241 while protecting the privacy the 2 LBJ related participants requested.
Sherrie
The problem as I see it is that looking at the tree for Robert Johnson-3723 he is showing as same person in 2 places and the YDNA as posted follows the male line. The female Mary line does NOT carry the YDNA forward. So in the end this impacts many Johnson profiles and continues to show haplogroup RM-269 as their confirmed YDNA. This is incorrect. It causes even the brothers of LBJ to be linked to RM-269. How can this be corrected? It seems to me that since Johnson-3723 is duplicated, a merge is not possible. Happy to do whatever I can to sort this out!
It can be corrected by correcting the test takers line.
A proposed merge of two profiles should stand on its own—do the two profiles have the same identity?
There is currently only 1 kit that is YDNA tested listed on the profile for Robert Johnson-3723. He is Robert Johnson-50393 FTDNA kit # B199316. I have located him in Johnson public display. He is grouped with one other kit 15859 in R1b family ZZZZ and descends from Isaiah Johnson b 1725 d 1799 United Kingdom (tested to 37 markers 0 distance with kit B199316)
The duality in profiles occurs because Robert Johnson-3723 is listed in 2 locations, same person same profile number.
I will post screen shots of the kits of these 2 conflicting haplogroups if that's allowed. The associated tester is haplogroup R and the other LBJ descendant is haplogroup E-L241 and is not a member of WT. Though I have his pedigree from Mark Valsame I am not at liberty to post his lineage and connection. The public display at FT only shows kit numbers and haplogroups, matches including potential matches, and most distant ancestor. In my conversation with Mark Valsame he restated that he does believe there are 2 separate Robert Johnsons.
Sherrie (Mitchell-17863) Boone
"The duality in profiles occurs because Robert Johnson-3723 is listed in 2 locations, same person same profile number."
If you visit https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Johnson-50393 and trace his Johnson line back. On second page you see his ancestor https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Johnson-3386, Benjamin Franklin Johnson. Extend the tree from there and you can see where Robert Johnson-3723 is listed in 2 places. This is the problem.
I’ve looked through changes and see that others believe there are indeed 2 James Johnson and that this James Johns(t)on is NOT the son of Robert Johnson-3723 as is connected. This James Johnston is son of an unknown Johnston as is posted on his profile. But the connection as is posted creates a path to an incorrect YDNA haplogroup that impacts this entire Johnson line, including LBJs brothers. LBJ is haplogroup E-L421.
In changes we can see that this James Johnson-55207 was at some point detached from Robert Johnson-3723 as father. Then he was re-added. From my point of view disconnecting James Johnson-55207 from Robert Johnson-3723 would correct the problem.
As mentioned, I’m happy to post screen shots of Johnson public results that display the different haplogroups.
In addition re Peter Robert's suggestion:
It appears other sources have shown LBJ's haplogroup is E. So both of these direct paternal lines are likely in error. I suggest requesting that the test taker determine where they believe the break is in their direct paternal line ancestry and detach (?) Otherwise someone could detach at the most distant Open profile which is unsourced and describe the haplotype mismatch. I believe it should be most distant because that still allows other direct paternal line descendants to Y-DNA test and confirm (or disprove) the direct paternal line ancestry back to their shared direct paternal line ancestor. commented Dec 10, 2015 by Peter Roberts G2G6 Pilot edited Dec 10, 2015 by Peter Roberts
I can ask a new G2G question. Please advise.
Sherrie (Mitchell-17863) Boone
What are the profile IDs of the duplicated profile? Presumably that is what you mean by "duality".
These links were supplied as a way to show how to see the duplicate Robert Johnson:
If you visit https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Johnson-50393 and trace his Johnson line back. On second page you see his ancestor https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Johnson-3386, Benjamin Franklin Johnson. Extend the tree from there and you can see where Robert Johnson-3723 is listed in 2 places. This is the problem.
Any WT member can see his Johnson tree from his page.... the key here to duplicity is the fact that Robert Johnson-3723 shows in 2 places. That can be corrected by disconnecting the connection of James to Robert Johnson-3723. Leaving his daughter Mary intact with children works and allows the proper connection for descendants to test to match the LBJ line,... as Peter Roberts suggested.
Sherrie (Mitchell-17863) Boone
I have read the caution in G2G about the possible conflation of an early and a later Robert Johnson. Unless and until this can be sorted, please connect Robert with both wives and document what is known in the profile. Thank you.
edited by Leah (McCarthy) Kopka
I have seen the reference to Mark Valsame's research on the Johnsons and I have seen the G2G item about it as well. But I cannot find any evidence of this research on the internet and no evidence that there was a second Robert Johnson concurrent with this one in Isle of Wight County. I do not see any compelling reason for disconnecting Mary Johnson from her father, Robert Johnson, who was married to Katherine Allen.
I have been able to document my lineage directing from Robert Johnson. His daughter, Mary, married James Johns(t)on. The "t" was dropped. James and Mary are the 5th great-grandparents of President Lyndon Johnson. They were followed in my line by Robert Johnson and Ann LNU, and the next generation is James Allen Johnson and Martha Fulgham. James was a Revolutionary War patriot and represented Isle of Wight County in the convention that ratified the United States constitution.
As always, I am prepared to defer to others with more knowledge or experience.
I see there was a Robert Johnson in Accomack County during the same period. But Accomack County in on the Eastern Shore of Virginia across the Chesapeake Bay.
Hoping to get some more opinions and/or facts concerning Robert Johnson of Isle of Wight County.
I am just trying to sort things out and am open to any and all evidence and opinions.